February 1, 2008
BUSINESS AS USUAL AT THE MLGW!!!
With all the misinformation floating around about the need for new taxes by both the City and Shelby County, it is easy to forget that the first responsibility of government is to spend the limited tax money wisely. Memphiswatchdog has been investigating corruption and mismanagement for over three years in both the City and Shelby County and we have been reporting on contracts that have been going to friends and supporters of the Mayors for some time. These special non bid or limited bid contracts have been costing the taxpayers millions in tax dollars.
There are four firms that have been favored for years with basically no bid contracts for equipment and software.These firms are Integrate Technology Inc. (Reginald French), Thomas Consultants, Inc. (Darrell Thomas), Mitchell Technology Group (Marvel Mitchell) and LeSure Computer Services. They have received millions under the ACS Information Technology contract with the City of Memphis which is currently under investigation by authorities. However the MLGW is also involved in giving business to these favored firms. A recent example is shown in an attached file as a result of an open records request. Thomas Consultants got a contract worth $1.83 million dollars for Dell computer servers bidding against two other minority firms, Mitchell and S.O.S. Computers dba Technology Express.
Watchdog received an email from a source that stated in part the following. MLGW’s IT department was forced to award to Thomas after he applied pressure to the MLGW board. I can tell you for a FACT that he was not low bid. Not even close. They broke the law and the rules by awarding it to him. Dell Computers was low. (this email was referring to a previous bid award to Thomas). They had done business with Dell direct for years. Watchdog has no first hand proof of this claim but we did check on Dell Direct and Western State Contracting Alliance (WSCA) and came up with a price for the same computers at least 25% lower in price. This needs to be investigated as to why Dell Direct and WSCA did not bid and was any pressure applied to the board of MLGW . With taxes getting ready to be raised in both the City and the County and with politicians bemoaning their lack of money, it is a crime to waste precious tax money to reward cronies.
Click here to see how the MLGW is spending your utility dollars
BUSINESS AS USUAL AT THE MLGW!!!
With all the misinformation floating around about the need for new taxes by both the City and Shelby County, it is easy to forget that the first responsibility of government is to spend the limited tax money wisely. Memphiswatchdog has been investigating corruption and mismanagement for over three years in both the City and Shelby County and we have been reporting on contracts that have been going to friends and supporters of the Mayors for some time. These special non bid or limited bid contracts have been costing the taxpayers millions in tax dollars.
There are four firms that have been favored for years with basically no bid contracts for equipment and software.These firms are Integrate Technology Inc. (Reginald French), Thomas Consultants, Inc. (Darrell Thomas), Mitchell Technology Group (Marvel Mitchell) and LeSure Computer Services. They have received millions under the ACS Information Technology contract with the City of Memphis which is currently under investigation by authorities. However the MLGW is also involved in giving business to these favored firms. A recent example is shown in an attached file as a result of an open records request. Thomas Consultants got a contract worth $1.83 million dollars for Dell computer servers bidding against two other minority firms, Mitchell and S.O.S. Computers dba Technology Express.
Watchdog received an email from a source that stated in part the following. MLGW’s IT department was forced to award to Thomas after he applied pressure to the MLGW board. I can tell you for a FACT that he was not low bid. Not even close. They broke the law and the rules by awarding it to him. Dell Computers was low. (this email was referring to a previous bid award to Thomas). They had done business with Dell direct for years. Watchdog has no first hand proof of this claim but we did check on Dell Direct and Western State Contracting Alliance (WSCA) and came up with a price for the same computers at least 25% lower in price. This needs to be investigated as to why Dell Direct and WSCA did not bid and was any pressure applied to the board of MLGW . With taxes getting ready to be raised in both the City and the County and with politicians bemoaning their lack of money, it is a crime to waste precious tax money to reward cronies.
Click here to see how the MLGW is spending your utility dollars
posted by watchdog at
4:18 PM
5 Comments:
Someone needs to start asking why the VP of HR is in violation of the Residency policy. The same policy that he is responsible for enforcing.
By
Anonymous, at 6:30 PM
We have the same problem in west memphis, arkansas. Maybe it is going around the country,
By
Boatwright, at 6:47 PM
Which problem is that boatwright?
By
Anonymous, at 6:41 AM
how about this item from the latest board meeting agenda:
Resolution amending the MLGW Credit Policy which grants the President flexibility in the
timing of disconnect orders.
someone please explain that!
By
Anonymous, at 3:28 PM
MLGW didn't seem to have these problems until the Mayor started dipping in its business and ripped out one President only to replace him with a completely unqualified puppet. And now, people who are trying to give a damn are just stonewalled or met with a great big yawn. Please keep looking in the dark corners Watchdog.
Let's list what is wrong.
1. No competition contracts with the same people that have connections with the Mayor.
2. Flexibility in the timing to cutoffs. Whatever that's for.
3. A VP of HR that is in violation of the city mandated residency policy. One must wonder that if the VP of HR (who is responsible for enforcing that policy) is in violation of that policy then what other policy is being violated? We've seen that certain people are allowed to go without paying their utility bill. What else is happening?
What other changes is the Board looking at making that isn't in the best interest of the rate payers?
By
Anonymous, at 7:01 AM
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